Words For Hire

Business, PR, Marketing, Social Media 586.461.2103

What you Talking ‘bout Willis?

by

Written by Karen D. Swim

As if we had not tortured and twisted the American language enough, an entire new lexicon has arisen as a result of social media. Our language is now populated by pop culture colloquialisms, abbreviated text speak and social media-isms. Add industry jargon to the mix and you have a communication nightmare.

What Say You?

Me: Here in MI our local ABC station follows that practice, it’s great.

Twitter Friend: I’m new to twitter speak, what’s MI?

In the above exchange I used the standard postal abbreviation for Michigan – MI – assuming that I was being inclusive with my language choice. Think again. We have become so accustomed to strange abbreviations and new words on Twitter that MI could have stood for anything.

Another example:

Travis: I’ll work on the feed and get it corrected, thanks for your help.
Me: No problem, ping me when it’s fixed and I’ll add you to my reader.
Travis: Oh, I don’t use Ping yet but I know I should learn
Me: No, not Ping.fm the service, I meant email or IM me to let me know when it’s done

See how confusing our language has become. We have created a virtual tower of Babel where it’s a wonder that we are still able to carry on conversations. We are friending, tweeting, linking, plurking, kwipping, blogging, shouting, skyping and on occasion hitting each other on our cellies. No wonder, even Dutch words have taken on a familiarity for me of late. These days I am as comfortable with unfamiliar foreign languages as my native tongue of English.

Think Before you Speak or Text

Yes, your mother was right. I have stuck my foot in my mouth more times than I care to admit when I have not taken a moment to think before opening my big fat mouth.  The removal of facial gestures and inflections makes communicating in writing even more hazardous. Pause before you hit the send button and make sure that your message will be read as intended.

So What Does That Have to Do with The Tea In China?

Now more than ever it is important to strive for clear communication. It is easier to have our words taken out of context, misunderstood or even unknowingly offend. Clear and simple language, free of jargon will foster understanding when communicating with a large and diverse audience.

Regional language and colloquial phrases are a wonderful way to add color to your communications but use them wisely. Phrases that are appropriate on one platform can be easily misunderstood on another.

I am going to make a greater effort to not be Misunderstood in MI, after all the whole point of social media is to communicate which implies being understood.

How do you manage our bourgeoning language? Do you have any personal practices or tips to share?

The Walking Wounded and Socially Fatigued

by

Written by Karen D. Swim

The other day I received an email notification that one of my Twitter followers was no longer following me. I clicked through to the follower’s twitter page and the most recent tweet (message) indicated that he was changing his twitter account un-following everyone and only following those who could have a direct impact on his business.

I was not offended by the un-follow but questioned the strategy. Is it possible to know who will impact our business? Human relationships are not linear so it is impossible to predict the trajectory of an interaction with someone you consider “unessential.” One of the benefits of having a broad social network, online or offline is the access to people beyond our immediate circle of influence. A social network like Twitter affords you the opportunity to be visible to a broad, diverse group and all those who follow them. That is both the benefit and the problem.

The interactions suddenly swell to a high level of noise and you look for ways to tone down the volume. Some are like me and simply take the occasional break from online interactions. Others may un-follow or quit networks altogether. Many have chosen to limit the interaction by shutting off their Facebook Wall or Blog Comments. Those who have a true need/desire can simply send a message or email.

With the rise of social networks we ripped the lid from Pandora’s box and unleashed a beast whose tentacles reach far and wide. As we choke on the glut of social interaction, we begin to question our previous adoration of those shiny new tools. Is it too late to tame this social beast?

The reality is we really do need people. We require some level of interaction in our personal and professional lives. Unfortunately, we cannot control how people choose to interact with us, or respond to us when we try to establish boundaries.

My advice is to look carefully before you leap into any social network. The honeymoon period will come to an end and you will be left with a relationship to manage. Is it worth your long term commitment?

Are you among the socially fatigued? How are you managing the balance?

References:

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Not in Polite Company

by

the CNN-Youtube Republican DebateImage via Wikipedia

Written by Karen D. Swim

Politics and Religion are those taboo subjects that many try to avoid discussing in public or with casual acquaintances. However, with the US Election season in full swing, fervent discussions of both occur everywhere, and many wish we’d all just shut up.

Mack Collier wrote a post discussing his journey into forbidden waters on Twitter. He cited a post on social media and branding thoughtfully written by Beth Harte. I read and largely agreed with both posts but also  began to question my own thoughts on this issue of “acceptable” conversation.

Journalists are tweeting personal opinions on Twitter from the convention floor.  Citizen journalists offer insights via blog posts, FriendFeed, UStream and YouTube.  Everyone has an opinion from P Diddy to Charles Barkley and those opinions are no longer confined to polite dinner conversations but heard and seen by millions. So, where do we draw the line or does the line even exist in these new times?

Many would argue as Mack and Beth did that these topics which evoke passion have the power to isolate potential customers and negatively impact your brand.  I do not disagree but these discussions are not always off the table in traditional business environments.  I have been in numerous business and client meetings where religion, politics and even racial issues were discussed and not always with decorum or civility.

Others would offer that the whole point of social media is to boldly rip down the façade of business only and allow personal to enter the equation. To add further complexity, social media enthusiasts are not sharing the platform for the same reasons. Some are there for business only, others personal and many for a mixture of the two. With the lines blurred, it becomes difficult to establish boundaries that satisfy all.  Is that a bad thing?

I tend to have religious and political discussions with people close to me who hold similar views.   I read and listen to a diversity of opinions and thoughts but I do not dare have these discussions with people outside of the “safe zone” for fear of being offensive.  I now question if that is the most prudent path.  If we never discuss the tougher issues will we ever achieve diversity?  Thoughtful discussions can lead to enriched viewpoints and perspectives.  Are we cheating ourselves when we safeguard our thoughts and beliefs for fear of retribution?

Perhaps the real problem is not the subject after all but our approach. Admittedly I could have lived without some of the more colorful tweets about Washington anatomy and “strategically placed” blacks at the Republican National Convention but I am not going to unfollow those with whom I disagree.

This month Joanna Young tackles the theme of writing with respect. It is a timely discussion which can also be applied to our written conversations on social media. Social media, although not new is still territory that is evolving. There exists a bit of the wild west as we write the rules on the fly.  The one rule that will never fail us however, is dignity and respect. If we treat everyone with dignity and respect we can agree to disagree on tough issues and learn from one another in the process. Along the way we may even be able to solve a few problems by combining our differing perspectives into a collective solution. That would truly be breaking new ground.

Now it’s your turn – should we avoid these taboo subjects in public? How do you manage these tough discussions or do you employ the speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil policy?

Related articles by Zemanta
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Adventures in the Real World

by

SwurlImage by gniliep via Flickr

Written by Karen D. Swim

Happy Friday! I hope this has been a good week for everyone. I hit the pause button yesterday and enjoyed hanging out in the “real world.” It was nice to take a break on a day I would normally be working. The brief break validated two things: 1) I have spent far too much time of late on the computer and 2) people out there (you know in the rest of our world without an avatar) could care less about the issues that seem so important online!

My first clue came when I had an urge to tweet my activities. Admittedly these could have been by best tweets yet because real life has great material! However, I was surrounded by real people and in a daring move… I talked to them! No 140 character limit or need to @, dm or add a smiley. Now don’t get me wrong I am normally chatty and strike up conversations wherever I go, but this was Thursday in the middle of a work day.

I mentioned Twitter and Facebook a few times during the day and um no one cared. Seriously. There was no talk of analytics, trends, fail whales or LinkedIn’s new group policy. Because, apparently a large part of the real world just doesn’t care.

There is however, common ground.  We all care about the things that matter – life (yea, suprisingly we are all pretty darn happy to wake up each day), health, family, career, balance, etc.  Essentially many of the things that we tweet, kwip and plurk are the same things discussed in the neighborhood barber shop or the corner store.  So, why I wondered are we often so polarized?

Those of us who are involved in social media and online work tend to forget that we still represent only a small percentage of the population.  Many more people see online as primarily email.  Our online experts are often unknown outside of cyberspace.  Yet those that have made a name in the real world are known by all.

So, what did I learn? I learned to not take this all so seriously. I can stress about stats, polls and SEO or I can put it in perspective and simply enjoy the journey. I also learned that well, I need to get out more! I need more days where there is no purpose other than to just hang and let life happen.

Now, it’s your turn. How do you manage your online time? Have you ever felt the need to dial it down? Do your real world peeps share your online interests? Talk to me, because I’m back and I am interested! 😉

Related articles by Zemanta
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

The Deal is in the Details

by

Paying people to hold signs is one of the olde...Image via Wikipedia

Written by Karen D. Swim

As children our parents taught us to do the little things like saying please, thank you or covering our mouth when coughing. In the big scheme of things these expressions of etiquette were not going to save the world but they sure would make it a nicer place to live.

As adults we are sometimes so focused on the complex, or the bigger picture that we fail to take note of the small details.  We build a whiz bang website but forget to have a call to action. We deliver a stand out proposal but forget to ask for the business.  So often it is the small detail that will set us apart from the crowd. Allow me to share a few recent examples.

For two weeks, I received resumes from prospective candidates. The problem? I am not hiring any new employees!  However, since I am a Career Marketing Professional, I read each submission. I was horrified by most of these attempts at securing a job.  Although, I counsel my own clients on the big and small details, I still assumed that the majority of job seekers got the easy stuff right. Wrong!

  • Only one applicant indicated the position sought and addressed me by name.
  • Many applicants simply copied and pasted a resume into the body of the email. Of course, with email formatting,  it came across as a sloppy, unprofessional mess.
  • Not one single person indicated why they were applying.

I responded to every applicant thanking them and even offered leads to a few of the better candidates.  I even called one applicant (Tip: When in job seekng mode, always be prepared to speak to a potential employer).

Two people told me they were responding to “my ad.” Neither could tell me where they had seen the ad! I found out later via Google Alerts that someone had placed an ad on Craig’s List. The real employer did not include the URL of his/her company and used the Craig’s List email. Applicants attempted to learn more by searching “Words For Hire” and making direct contact.

Any one of these applicants would have stood out by doing the basics well such as:

  • Indicating the reason for applying and where they saw the ad. (The employer may have placed multiple ads!)
  • Using the supplied email address (this may have been done for tracking purposes).
  • Taking time to do a text friendly resume (takes two minutes, I do this for clients all the time).

Another recent example comes courtesy of marketing emails.  These days when you connect with people on LinkedIn or social forums, you are automatically added to their mailing list. (I will discuss this subject in detail in upcoming posts on social media.) I receive lots of ezines, marketing messages and invites in my email box.

With many of the messages, I am not sure how I got on a list or how to get off. These emails often come from an admin address to which you cannot reply. So, when I got an email that took note of these two basic things I noticed! Right at the top it said:

“Dear Friends, Just to jog your memory, we were connected through Linkedin and have become part of one another’s network.  I know you will find great value in the article below, and I appreciate your forwarding it to those that you think it might help as well.

Feel free to unsubscribe from my monthly newsletter (and unoccasional notices) by hitting the button below.  (But I would definitely miss you!)  Stick around for a couple of months and give it a try; I always make the message inspiring and valuable!”

I don’t mind sharing that the note was sent by Laura Fenamore. Not only did she tell me why I was receiving it, but gave me a nice way to opt out (without opting out of being linked to her) with a great soft sell marketing message to boot!

These days, “average” has become “below average.” It is not that hard to rise above the crowd of mediocrity. While fancy graphics and technological wizardry are wonderful, your efforts are diluted if you don’t do the basics well.  Yes, I know the basics are not the hot new trend of the day.  They are, however, the  proven workhorse that the cool kids often overlook. If you want to rise above in today’s competitive marketplace, pay attention to the little things.

How do you make sure you don’t overlook the basics? Are these little things important to you and your customers?  Grab a cup of coffee, tea, or beverage of your choice and let’s chat!

Zemanta Pixie

Friend Feeders, Gorgers and Other Tales of Social Media

by

Written by Karen D. Swim

No Vacancy Sign

Years ago I met a woman named Lisa (not her real name) while doing my civic duty as a juror.  After 14 days of being cooped up in a room with a group of people you either walk out friends or never want to see them again! Lisa and I seemed to get along fine. She was around my age and we were both single. We exchanged contact information and agreed to keep in touch.

We got together the following weekend for a movie. She called me later that night, and the next day, and the next day. Well you get the picture. She called a lot to moan and complain. Lisa was what my friends and I called an “energy vampire.”

I had a close group of girlfriends and I was accustomed to having a phone to my ear at least 18 hours per day, but this was not the same. Lisa kept inviting me to do things and I would beg off politely. I stopped returning phone calls yet she persisted.

Finally, I did something uncharacteristic, I was mean. I told Lisa that my quota for friends was filled, and I was no longer accepting new applicants. She tried to argue with me (I mean geez she really was tenacious) and our last conversation ended badly. I felt guilty but cleansed.

Social media networking has become a little like Lisa. I love connecting with other people but lately have found myself wanting to draw the line. I get stock LinkedIn invites from strangers or advertisements masked as an invite for things I neither want nor need. People leave self-promotional ads on my profile page and then spam me with invites to join everything from the Bombay cooking school network to support groups for people who don’t like the color green! And please let’s not discuss the creepy Facebook applications!

Now, I am not saying that I don’t want to connect with diverse people (diverse, not creepy) but try connecting with me where I already hang out. Let’s exchange pleasantries before you then shoot me invites to 20 other places to which I don’t belong. I love LinkedIn and it is one place where having a large network comes in handy. However, can you at least customize the invite beyond the stock invitation (yes you company of people who have been mandated by HR to befriend everyone on LinkedIn).  Now, if I already know you I could care less about the stock invitation, but if you don’t know me at all how about a little bit of effort?

Social networking has been great for me personally and professionally. I love the Skype talks with Roland, and my Gtalk chats with Daniel Smith. I enjoy my twitter buds and blog comment buddies (ahem that would be all of you) . I can check out of Plurk for weeks and come back to insightful questions from Jane Chin and intense discussions on social media led by Her Royal Fierceness, Connie Reece or Mack Collier. Yet I am joining the legions of people who are beginning to re-think the concept of open networker. So be warned, if you send me an invite in a language I don’t understand or a picture of you in your underwear, I just may tell you that I’m all out of friend spots. Perhaps Lisa is available.

Are you an active participant in social media? Has your approach changed to how you add friends?